Shipping container



Jam., M, 193@ M. H. sMsTH SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed July 9, 1930 IENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

@rented Jan. 14, i936 ITE STAT ES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CONTAINER Application July 9, 1930, Serial N0. 466,702

4 Claims.

The prime object of the invention is to design a shipping container for fruits, vegetables, and the like, and provide a cover which forms a. closure for the upper end thereof, said cover being so designed that the upper edge of the cover rim lies in a plane substantially flush with the crown thereof, so that, when the containers are placed in superimposed relation for shipment or storage, the upper containers will rest on the cover rim,4 consequently, all Weight will be carried by the side walls of the containers, without imposing any weight on the center of the cover, and without danger of damage to the contents of the lower containers.

Another object is to provide a shipping container of simple and sturdy construction, and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

A further object is to provide a container which readily lends itself to a crown effect packing so that the contents can be attractively and uniformly arranged, the container being packed While in an inverted position and when filled, the bottom is secured in position to complete the packing.

A still further object is to provide a container which readily lends itself to quantity production, and from which the cover and bottom can be easily and quickly removed or replaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a container, a cover therefor having the peripheral edge thereof secured to the under side of the rim whereby to prevent the rim fromy contacting with the contents of the container and to guard against the possibility of the cover portion becoming disengaged from the rim.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional view of my improved container showing fruit packed therein.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken through one of the hoops.

Fig. 5 illustrates how the containers may be piled for shipment or` storage.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part section view showing the manner of fastening the bottom in position.

Referring now more particularly to the ac- 5 companying drawing, the shipping container herein described can be formed of any suitable and desired material, and for the purpose of illustration only, I have in the present instance shown it composedof a plurality of stave mem- 10 bers 5, rigidly secured together at its top and bottom end by means of hoop members 6 and 1 respectively.

These hoop members `I-and 1 are preferably U- shaped in cross section so that they form both I5 an inner and outer hoop, as well as` a protection and reinforcement for the stave ends to prevent splintering and breakage when considerable weight is imposed thereon, and said hoops can be secured to the staves in any approved manner, 2o either by providing tangs, nailing, punching, riveting the metal, or welding, this being a matter of construction detail only.

The cover comprises a crowned center section 8 having a downwardly extending flange 9 which 25 fits over the upper edge of the container, a circular rim member I0, of approximately the same diameter as the hoop 6, being provided as shown, and is secured in position by nails or the like, and this cover is secured against displacement 3o by means of fasteners II, formed as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the ends I2 being bent to engage and fold over the members 6 and I0 respectively. The flange 9 may, of course, be omitted and it is to be noted that the edge of the 35 section 8 is secured to the under side of the rim` I0 so that it is impossible to disengage the section 8 from the rim by contact with other packages and in this Way the cover is rendered more serviceable and more lasting.

The bottom of the container is constructed as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and comprises a circular piece of material I3, having a plurality of strap members I4 secured thereto by means' of a rivet I5, the ends of the straps projecting between the slats of the container and are folded down and around the lower hoop 'l as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The container is packed while in an inverted 50 position, a corrugated sheet of paper I6 being placed on the cover and the fruit I1 is then uniformly arranged thereon. After the container is filled, a similar sheet of corrugated paper (not shown) is placed thereon, after which the bottom is inserted and the straps bent over and around the hoop '1.

After the bottom has been fastened in position the container is inverted to the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is then ready for piling, shipment or storage.

As shown in Fig. 5 these packed containers, piled to any desirable height, are arranged to break joints, the container I9 being supported on the containers 20 and 2|, in this Way the weight of the container I9 is carried by the side walls of the containers 20 and 2|, and other containers are similarly arranged, and inasmuch as the rim l0 is supported on the upper edge of the hoop 6, it will be clearly obvious that no weight will be imposed on the crown portion of the top, and the contents of the container will not be subjected to crushing orbe otherwise damaged.

It is to be noted that the crown section 8 permits the container to be packed full without any danger of the contents becoming cut by the rim I0 because of the fact that the edge cover section 8 is secured beneath the rim and forms a bearing surface for the rim on the top of the container.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical, substantial, and economical shipping container for fruits, vegetables, and the like.

What I claim is:-

1. A shipping container comprising a cylindrical body provided with U-shaped hoops secured to the upper and lower ends thereof, a crown-shaped cover unit mounted on said body and provided with a vertically disposed rim forming a continuation of the cylindrical body, the upper edge of the rim lying in a plane substantially flush with the top of the cover crown, and fasteners cooperating with said rim vand said hopp at the upper ends of said staves for securing the rim to the lower edge of the upper hoop.

2. In a shipping container having a substantially cylindrical body portion, the combination of a cover comprising solely a relatively thin vertical rim having its upper edge free disposed over the top edge of the body portion and forming a substantial continuation of the wall thereof, and a convex center portion having the peripheral edge thereof secured under the edge of said rim whereby to prevent the contents of the container from beingdamaged by contact with the rim, and means for securing said cover to said body portion.

3. In a shipping container, the combination of a cylindrical body portion formed of a plurality of staves, U-shaped hoops enclosing the ends of said staves and secured thereto, a detachable bottom secured to said body portion, a cover including a vertical rim forming a substantial continuation of said body portion and a convex center portion secured to the bottom edge of said rim whereby to prevent the con*- tents of the container from contacting with the rim, and means cooperating with said rim and said hoop at the upper ends of said staves for securing said cover to the body portion.

4. In a shipping container, the combination of a cylindrical body portion formed of a plurality of staves, U-shaped hoops enclosing the ends of said staves and secured thereto, a detachable bottom secured to said body portion, a cover including a vertical rim forming a continuation of the body portion and a convex center portion secured to the bottom edge of said rim and having the peripheral edge thereof extending downwardly to overlie the upper hoop, and means cooperating with said rim and said hoop at the upper ends of said staves for securing said cover to the body portion.

MYRON H. SMITH. 

